A Fantastic Idea
Pat will probably kill me for posting this, but Gregory S. McNeal at National Review Online had a great idea last week that I just stumbled across: Pat Toomey for Veep.
Pat Toomey for Veep? [Gregory S. McNeal]
The rest of NRO is kicking around their predictions, hopes and fears regarding McCain's August 29th VP announcement, so I thought I'd jump in with my own thoughts.
With talk of Tom Ridge being a possiblity because he can help deliver Pennsylvania, but a bad pick because of his pro-choice record, I got to thinking about other Pennsylvanians. Pat Toomey, the president of the Club for Growth, immediately came to mind.
Toomey is a clear conservative, and given his work at the Club for Growth, his profile fits McCain's reformer image. He penned an op-ed back in February offering his own thoughts on McCain's veep options. In Toomey's words, McCain "will have to become the champion of the brand of economic conservatism that has won national elections for Republicans since 1980." What better person than Toomey to help McCain achieve that goal?
Being from Pennsylvania, Toomey fits the notion that a VP candidate can deliver a state (although I don't agree with that theory, and I think Ramesh wrote once that he doesn't agree with it either, but I can't find the link). If the campaign is looking for a Pennsylvanian, they should look no further than Pat Toomey. Toomey's former congressional district is a swing district(Allentown/Easton/Bethlehem), which could help McCain peel off some voters from Obama. Also, Toomey's clear conservative record could help rally fence-sitting conservatives to the McCain campaign.
Here are some quick points on Toomey based on his voting record, as compiled by http://www.ontheissues.org/PA/Pat_Toomey.htm:
-Toomey holds a 0% rating by NARAL, indicating a solid pro-life voting record
-Toomey is in favor of school prayer
-Toomey voted yes on the 2003 energy policy proposed by President Bush
-Toomey voted no on prohibiting ANWR drilling
-Toomey has repeatedly voted in favor of free trade
-Toomey is rated A by the NRA
Of course Toomey is a tax cutter and a limited-government proponent. The Club For Growth's efforts reflect his commitment to these conservative principles.
The big vote that might make him unsuitable was his opposition to campaign-finance reform, McCain's signature issue. Setting that aside, as Toomey stated in his op-ed: "To win in November, Mr. McCain needs a strong economically conservative message. Picking a vice presidential nominee who can credibly champion that message is the first and perhaps best indicator he can give voters how he will govern if he makes it to the Oval Office." Let's hope the McCain campaign was listening, and extends an offer to Pat Toomey.
